The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-28
NOTES FROM THE CAPITOL.
Treasury Department Certain of Secur-
ing the Bonds Desired.
Disgraceful Conduct of Army and Navy Off
cers-Bids for Gun Material-Patents to
Indiana Inventors-General Notes.
AN EPIDEMIC OF DRUNKENNESS.

The Disgraceful Conduct of Army and Naval
Officers Account of Drink.
Washington Special.
An epidemic of drunkenness would seem
to have prevailed in the army and navy
during the summer, affecting even the Mil
itary Academy at West Point. and the
civil bureaus of both departments. The
army orders published Saturday contain full
report of the court-martial and findings in tha
case of West Point Cadets William r. Dashiell,
Hart, George w. Kirknan and Alfred C. Mer-
rill, who were tried for drunkenness at the State
encampment at Peekskill in July. The ex-
emplary youths appeared on parade
In such state of ntoxicaton
that the services of orderlies were
required to prevent them from falling from their
horses. The court found them all guilty, and
Cadet Merrill admitted the charge of having left
his post before being relieved. Dashiell. Hart
and klrkman were sentenced to be dismissed
the service, and Merrill to ten months suspen-
sion with loss of pay. Executive clemency
lnterfered in each case, however. and the SEN
tence of Dashell and Hart was commuted to
three months in the light prison, that of Kirk
man to four months and that of Merrill to two
months similar confinement. In army circles
the communication of the sentences is not looked
on as conducive to the good discipline of the
academy.
A short time ago naval lieutenant on duty
ment reported at o'clock in the morning
much the worse for liquor that ne had to be sent
home in a cab The attention of the officer in
charge was at once called to the offense, but no
action has as yet been taken in the premises.
At about the same time lieutenant on detail
duty in the naval observatory i'm bbed so freely
during the day that his actions resembled those
of the traditional bull in a china shop. He
Knocked down and injured several valuable in
struments and then left the observatory without
winding such as operated by clock
work AS consequence they all ran
down before morning. 1t was stated at the
time that he fell upon and stopped the great
chronometer clock that sends out the time sig
nails all over the country This is denied. No
cognizance of his case has been taken in the
department, and it is doubtful if anything will
be done. This laxity is in marked contrast with
the action in the case of Capt. Cyrus g. Gray.
the war of the rebellion and soldier whose
record was excellent until he unlucky
enough to be found under the influence of liquor
He was promptly Contamination charges
preferred by his commander. Col Jam es w.
Forsythe, found guilty and dismissed the
service. Though admitting that he
intoxicated, Captain Gray denies that
he was duty until his colonel, who saw his
condition, ordered him to perform the delicate
task of closing up and transferring his company
The court martial charges then followed. Capt.
Gray, some time ago. preferred formal charges
to the Secretary OF War against Colonel For
sythe, alleging that the testimony given by the
latter before the court-martial was not true;
that the Colonel was actuated by malice and
did, in fact. commit perjury. No action has
been taken by the department in the matter.
A prominent army officer said to-day: ''If
duty, is dismissed the service. little army
will soon dwindle to q corporai's guard. 1t
makes deal of difference, however, whether the
officer has influence in the department"